Videos

Gunung Leuser National Park – North Sumatra

Information

The Leuser Ecosystem is an outstanding wilderness in northern Sumatra. It is one of the richest expanses of tropical rain forest in Southeast Asia. More than 2.5 million hectares in size, it is the last place on earth where elephants, rhinos, tigers the population of the Sumatran Tiger is about 400 species, clouded leopards, and orangutans are found within one area. Together with Bukit Barisan Selatan and Kerinci Seblat national parks it forms a World Heritage Site, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra.

The Leuser Ecosystem has an enormous level of biodiversity. It contains at least 127 mammal species. About 8,500 different plant species grow in the beach, swamp, lowland, mountain and alpine ecosystems of the Leuser Ecosystem. Of the 10,000 plant species recorded in the West Indo-Malayan Region, 45% are found in the Leuser Ecosystem. Spectacular plants such as Rafflesia (the largest flower in the world) and Amorphophallus (the tallest flower in the world) are among the plants protected there.

Flora

Because of the great differences in altitude and the diversity in soil, the Gunung Leuser National Park has an enormous wealth of plant species. About 8,500 different species grow in the beach, swamp, lowland, mountain and alpine woods of the park.

In the mountain and and alpine woods, several species of moss and wild flowers: Gentians, Primula’s, Strawberry, herbs, and wild orchids are found. The Rafflesia Arnoldi or Bunga padma (Rafflesia sp.) grows here also.

Fauna

About 700 different species of animals (320 birds, 176 mammals and 194 reptiles and amphibians) live in the Gunung Leuser National Park. In Ket lies lake Banko, the last place in North Sumatra where the Swamp Crocodile lives.